. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/SWE/96 
23 March 2009  
 (09-1403) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  SWEDEN
  
If applicable, name of local governme nt involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of the Environment 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :   
Kommerskollegium (National Board of Trade) 
Box 6803 S.113 86 STOCKHOLM Tel: +46 8 690 48 00 
Fax: +46 8 690 48 40 
E-mail: registrator@kommers.se
 
Website: www.kommers.se  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   
Washing-up detergents containing phosphates 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   
Proposal for an ordinance concerning amendment of the ordinance on Prohibition etc. in 
Certain Cases in Connection with Handling,  Importation and Exportation of Chemical 
Products (1998:944) (2 pages, in Swedish) 
6. Description of content:   
The proposal contains a ban on phosphates in  washing-up detergents for consumer use.  G/TBT/N/SWE/96 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:   
The Government Bill (2004/05:150), passed by the Swedish Parliament (2005/06:MJU3, rskr. 
2005/06:48 and rskr. 2005/06:49), includes targets in  order to reach the environmental quality 
objective Zero Eutrophication. The development the latest 5-10 years is that neither the limits 
of nutritive salts nor the effects of the eutr ophication have decreased in considerable 
proportions. This is the case although large-scale me asures have been taken. It is especially 
problematic in the Baltic Sea. The Swedis h government is deeply concerned over the 
development in the Baltic Sea. This is why the government give high priorities to national and 
international measures reducing the eutrophica tion of the Baltic Sea. One such effective 
measure aimed at this is to introduce a ba n on phosphates in washing-up detergents for 
consumer use.  
Alternatives to the use of phosphates have been developed. In Sweden the market for 
washing-up detergents which do not contain pho sphates possesses 27 % of the market for 
consumer use and dominates the market for professional use. 
A ban on phosphates in washing-up detergents for consumer use will reduce the annual 
emission of phosphorus with about  20 tons and lead to better  fulfilment of the water 
framework directive (2000/60/EC) and its requirements regarding good water quality.      
8. Relevant documents:   -   
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   }   1 July 2011 
10. Final date for comments:  12 June 2009 
11. Text available from: National enquiry point [  ], or addre ss, telephone and fax numbers, 
e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:    
Kommerskollegium (National Board of Trade) 
Box 6803 S.113 86 STOCKHOLM Tel: +46 8 690 48 00 Fax: +46 8 690 48 40 
E-mail: registrator@kommers.se
 
Website: www.kommers.se